On Celestial Principles
of Family Finances
D. Calvin Andrus, Bishop
Sterling Park Ward
31 October 2004
acadac@aol.com
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
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2
31 October 2004
Principle One of Four
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31 October 2004
Pharaoh's Attitude Problem


4
Pharaoh's problem was that
he thought he owned the
slaves, and thus he could do
with them what he wanted.
Moreover, he thought he
owned all of Egypt. The
soil, the water, the crops,
the herds, the buildings,
etc.
31 October 2004
The Purpose of the Plagues
Exodus 9:29 -- And Moses
said unto him, As soon as I
am gone out of the city, I
will spread abroad my hands
unto the LORD; and the
thunder shall cease, neither
shall there be any more hail;
that thou mayest know how
that the earth is the
“The Ten Commandments” © 1956 Paramount Studios
LORD‘s. (Cross reference
Psalms 24:1 and 1 Cor 10.26)
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31 October 2004
Who Owns Our Stuff?
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Do we suffer from Pharaoh’s attitude?
Do we think we own our car, house, clothes,
toys, and paycheck?
DC 104:14
–
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6
I, the Lord, stretched out the
heavens, and built the earth,
my very handiwork; and all things
therein are mine.
The whole earth is His--everything in it, on it,
under it, over it, through it, and around it.
31 October 2004
What About Stuff I Make?
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Genesis 1:27
–
So God created man in
his own image, in the
image of God created he
him; male and female
created he them.
Michelangelo (1511-1512), “The Creation of Man,” Sistine Chapel, Rome

It is by the grace of God that we have life, health,
strength, intellect, energy, inspiration, and
motivation.
–
–
7
Without these we could do nothing with the resources of
the earth.
So human beings, powered by God, take God's resources to
make things that belong to Him.
31 October 2004
The 1st Principle
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8
The first Celestial Principle of Family
Financing is that nothing in your possession
belongs to you. It all belongs to the Lord.
31 October 2004
#1 - It’s Not Mine . . .
LEVEL
ATTITUDE
Telestial
What's yours is mine
Terrestrial
What's mine is mine
Celestial
None of it is mine, it is the Lord's
. . . It’s the Lord’s
9
31 October 2004
Principle Two of Four
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31 October 2004
What the Lord Gives Us
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When the Lord placed Adam and Eve into the
Garden, he gave them something. What was that?
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Genesis 1:28
–
And God blessed them, and God
said unto them, Be fruitful, and
multiply, and replenish the earth,
and subdue it: and have dominion
over the fish of the sea, and over
the fowl of the air, and over every
living thing that moveth upon the earth.
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11
Bassano, Jacopo (1570-73); “Garden of Eden”
Oil on canvas, 77 x 109 cm;
Galleria Doria-Pamphili, Rome
He did NOT GIVE them the earth, he commanded
them to have DOMINION OVER the earth.
31 October 2004
Dominion equals Stewardship
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DC 104:12-13
–
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12
That every man may give an account unto me of the
stewardship which is appointed unto him. For it is
expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man
accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I
have made and prepared for my creatures.
We, then, are the Lord's stewards over the
resources of the earth. We will be held accountable
at judgment day for how we manage the portion of
the Lord's resources that have been assigned to us.
31 October 2004
Which Master Do We Serve?
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Luke 16:10-13
–
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We cannot be good stewards of
the Lord's resources if we think
those resources belong to us.
–
–
13
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in
much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous
mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And
if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's,
who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can
serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love
the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
We cannot serve both God and
ourselves at the same time.
We cannot serve God if our aim is
the accumulation of wealth.
31 October 2004
Rules for Good Stewardship
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
14
If we are the caretakers of the Lord's
resources and he will judge us in our
management of these resources, it would be
a good idea if He were to give us some
guidelines.
Well, today is our lucky day, because we do
have prophets who have given us
those guidelines. Let me take a
detour and just mention one of
the guidelines now.
31 October 2004
Pres. Hinckley has said . . .
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15
So many of our people are living on the very edge of their incomes. In
fact, some are living on borrowings. . .
I urge you, brethren, to look to the condition of your finances. I urge
you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your
purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible. Pay off debt as
quickly as you can, and free yourselves from bondage.
This is a part of the temporal gospel in which we believe. May the
Lord bless you, my beloved brethren, to set your houses in order. If
you have paid your debts, if you have a reserve, even though it be
small, then should storms howl about your head, you will have shelter
for your wives and children and peace in your hearts. That’s all I have
to say about it, but I wish to say it with all the emphasis of which
I am capable.
31 October 2004
Elder Wirthlin has said . . .
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16
Some debt—such as for a
modest home, expenses
for education, perhaps
for a needed first car—
may be necessary. But
never should we enter
into financial bondage
through consumer debt
without carefully weighing
the costs.
31 October 2004
Debt is Unfaithful Stewardship
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If we have borrowed money and are now
–
–
–
–
–
–
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17
house-rich and cash-poor, or
car-rich and cash-poor, or
investment-rich and cash-poor, or
vacation-rich and cash-poor, or
consumer goods-rich and cash-poor
etc.
we are unfaithful stewards.
Every loan we take out is a mortgage or lien on
the Lord's storehouse. It binds up the Lord's
resources so they are unavailable for use by the
Lord to build His kingdom.
31 October 2004
Interest and Late Fees
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Debt is made of of principal and interest. I have
just been talking about principle portion of debt.
When we start talking about the interest portion of
debt, the commandment is clear.
2 Nephi 9:51
–
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18
Wherefore, do not spend money for
that which is of no worth, nor your
labor for that which cannot satisfy.
Spending money on interest and late fees is
spending money on that which is of no worth and
laboring for that which cannot satisfy.
31 October 2004
On Late Fees

A late fee is a penalty for
breaking an agreement to
pay a debt on time. Breaking
agreements is dishonest.
–
19
www.valpo.edu/student/honor/

The 8th Temple recommend question asks if
we are honest in our dealing with our fellow
men.
Late penalties are evidence that
we are not being honest with our fellow men.
31 October 2004
What Debt Does to Us

Even more insidious is the effect debt has on our attitude
toward life. The Savior said,

Matt. 6:21 --
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

It is true that the more debt our
families have, and the more
interest we pay, the more we will
spend our emotional and spiritual
energy on finances, rather than on
building our family and the
Kingdom of God
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31 October 2004
Before Getting Back on Track
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Avoiding debt is just one of the rules with
which a faithful steward must abide.
–
–
–
Another is tithing
Another is fast offering
Another is having a reserve
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–
–
21
Food and money
Another is being modest in
consuming goods and services
Another is getting training
and education
31 October 2004
The 2nd Principle
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22
The second Celestial Principle of Family Financing is
that financial management is a test of
stewardship—to see if we can manage the Lord’s
resources according to the Lord’s will.
31 October 2004
# 2 - It’s Not About the Money . . .
LEVEL
ATTITUDE
Telestial
It is about the money
Terrestrial
It is about what the money can do
Celestial
It is about being a good steward
. . . It’s about being a good steward
23
31 October 2004
Principle Three of Four
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31 October 2004
Sweat of Thy Face
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25
When we read about
Adam and Eve being
kicked out of the
Garden of Eden, we
think the Lord gave
Adam a curse when
he said that, "In the
sweat of thy face
shalt thou eat bread,
till thou return unto
the ground." (Genesis
3:19).
31 October 2004
Work to Eat
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Moses 5:1
–
AND it came to pass that after I, the Lord God, had
driven them out, that Adam began to till the earth, and to
have dominion over all the beasts of the field, and to eat
his bread by the sweat of his brow, as I the Lord had
commanded him. And Eve, also, his wife, did labor with
him.
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It was not a curse to be avoided, but a
commandment to be kept. Think about what that
difference means to us in our lives.
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31 October 2004
Six Days Shalt Thou Labor
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This commandment was
repeated to Moses.
–
Exodus 20:9
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
The commandment was
repeated to Joseph Smith
–
DC 42:42
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27
Six days shalt thou labour, and do
all thy work:
Thou shalt not be idle; for he that
is idle shall not eat the bread nor
wear the garments of the laborer.
31 October 2004
Extending Self-Reliance
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
The commandment for us to work to provide for our
needs is the foundation of another commandment.
DC 104:15-18
–
28
And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things
are mine. But it must needs be done in mine own way; and
behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to
provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in
that the rich are made low. For the earth is full, and there
is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have
given unto the children of men to be agents unto
themselves. Therefore, if any man shall take of the
abundance which I have made, and impart not his
portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor
and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in
hell, being in torment.
31 October 2004
Charity Required for Repentance
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
If, as stewards, we accumulate from the
abundance which the Lord has placed on
the earth, we are commanded, as
stewards, to impart from this
accumulation to the poor and needy. This
is not a new commandment. King Benjamin
taught:
Mosiah 4:16
–
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Mosiah 4:26
–
29
And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of
your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that
standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth
up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.
And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto
you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins
from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would
that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man
according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry,
clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their
relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.
31 October 2004
Free and Good Desires
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Mosiah 18:27-28
–
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30
And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their
substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he
should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be
required; and to him that had not should be given. And thus they should impart of
their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to
those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul.
The twist is that good
stewards share the
Lord's abundance because
they have good desires
toward God and impart
of stewardship freely, with
no hesitation or regret.
31 October 2004
The 3rd Principle
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31
The third Celestial Principle of Family
Financing is that we all work all the days of
our lives so that we all can provide for each
other.
31 October 2004
#3 - It’s Not About Dependency . . .
LEVEL
ATTITUDE
Telestial
You take care of me
Terrestrial
I work to take care of my own
Celestial
We all work to take care of each other
. . . It’s about working to take
care of each other
32
31 October 2004
Principle Four of Four
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31 October 2004
Surprise!
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Picture a scene in the 1950's, when a husband comes
home from work, asks his wife to close her eyes,
and brings her outside to surprise her with a new
car.
BAD, BAD, BAD.
The vehicle's title
was probably in only
his name. The title
of the house was
probably only in his
name.
BAD. BAD. BAD.
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
34
31 October 2004
Be One in Financial Stewardship
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D&C 38: 27
–
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Large surprises are BAD.
–
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35
Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable,
and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be one; and
if ye are not one ye are not mine.
Large purchases must never, ever be a surprise
to those with whom we share a financial
stewardship.
Every substantial purchase must be jointly
decided and agreed upon in advance.
31 October 2004
Commingle Assets
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Still, if couples can't share their money in a
checking account, it's probably a signal that
something's wrong in the relationship.

"Of couples I have counseled, the greatest
success, both in marital happinss and
sustainablity, occurs when assets are
commingled upon marriage,” says Sharon
Durling, author A Girl and Her Money.
Pat Curry (10 June 2003) "Love, honor, and
share a bank account." www.bankrate.com
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31 October 2004
Financial Infidelity
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From hidden agendas to private
accounts, undisclosed debt to
unstated resentment, couples
increasingly lead covert financial
lives. This secrecy creates a new
form of infidelity—one that’s
more dangerous than sexual
betrayal.
Loftus, Mary (December 2004). “Till Debt Do
Us Part.” Psychology Today. Vol. 37 No. 6.
37
31 October 2004
Budget, Discuss, and Agree
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For usual expenses, like groceries and clothes, a
family needs to agree on a budget in advance and if
purchases will exceed the budget, a discussion must
occur prior to the purchase.
Every non-usual purchase must be discussed and
agreed upon in advance.
–
38
For non-routine purchases, a critical component of the
discussion is to identify the money that already exists in a
savings account that will cover the purchase. If the money
does not exist in savings, then we have our answer. We
don't buy.
31 October 2004
Total Financial Unity
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
The principle of unity extends beyond just day-today purchases. It applies to all the family's assets.
Both partners must have visual access to and
spend authority on all of the financial assets of
the family.
–

39
To have "secret funds" or accounts in only one name is
contrary to Celestial principles.
The 8th Temple recommend question asks if we are
honest in our dealing with our fellow men. This
includes being honest with our spouses about family
finances.
31 October 2004
Getting the Spirit

Oliver Cowdery's experience in trying to
translate the Book of Mormon teaches us
how we become one with the Spirit in
trying to make decisions.
–
–
40
DC 9:8 But, behold, I say unto you,
that you must study it out in your
mind; then you must ask me if it
be right, and if it is right I will cause
that your bosom shall burn within
you; therefore, you shall feel that
it is right.
DC 8:2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in
your mind and in your heart, by the
Holy Ghost, which shall come upon
you and which shall dwell in your heart.
31 October 2004
Becoming One
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
41
Every time we make a decision, we must make a list
of the half dozen or so most important things we
could spend our money on (vacation, computer,
extra mortgage payment, savings, etc.).
For each we should discuss the pros and cons.
When both spouses agree on what and how much,
then we must pray.
If the expenditure makes sense to our minds and
we feel calm without reservations in our hearts,
then we can make the purchase.
If not, then wait and go through the process again.
31 October 2004
United in Prayer

I testify that great spiritual strength
comes to a couple when—
–
united in purpose,
–
on their knees, and
–
holding hands
they pray to make sure that buying a new
sofa is approved by our Father in Heaven.
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42
Our confidence will wax strong in the
presence of the Lord (D&C 121: 45) when
the Spirit confirms we are executing our
financial stewardship in accordance with
our Heavenly Father's plan.
31 October 2004
The 4th Principle
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43
The fourth Celestial Principle of Family
Financing is that we become one with each
other and the Holy Ghost about our financial
stewardship decisions.
31 October 2004
#4 - It’s Not About Me . . .
LEVEL
ATTITUDE
Telestial
I decide what to do with my money
Terrestrial
We decide together what to do with our money
Celestial
We are one with the Holy Ghost about what to do
with the Lord's money
. . . It’s about ‘we’
44
31 October 2004
Summary
PRINCIPLE / LEVEL
TELESTIAL
TERRESTRIAL
CELESTIAL
"It's not mine"
What's yours is mine
What's mine is mine
None of it is mine, it is
the Lord's
"It's not about the
money"
It is about the money
It is about what the
money can do
It is about being a faithful
steward
"It's not about
dependency"
You take care of me
I work to take care of
my own
We all work to take care
of each other
I decide what to do
with my money
We decide together
what to do with our
money
It's about we. We are
one with the Holy Ghost
about what to do with the
Lord's money
"It's not about me"
45
31 October 2004
Conclusion
Brothers and sisters, Luke asked the question:
Luke 16:11 - If therefore ye have not been faithful in the
unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true
riches?
Answer: Nobody. Unless we manage our financial stewardship in
strict accordance with Celestial Principles, we cannot hope to be
admitted into the Celestial Kingdom.
Exercising faith, and trusting in the guidance of the Holy
Ghost, we can become good and faithful servants, worthy to
enter into our Father’s kingdom.
46
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
31 October 2004
The End
On Celestial Principles
of Family Finances
http://members.aol.com/acadac/talks
D. Calvin Andrus, Bishop
Sterling Park Ward
31 October 2004